4 The heartbeat digital revolution coming to you A collaborative project encompassing multiple teams has successfully transformed how information about a patient’s heartbeat is recorded, while delivering significant benefits for our staff. Electrocardiogram (ECG) integration is now in place throughout the RFH’s ED, ITU and cardiology departments. It is due to roll out to the rest of the RFH shortly and will also be embedded at BH this year. CFH has benefitted from ECG integration since it opened. Staff from IT, medical electronics and clinical teams came together to ensure the success of the project, which enables healthcare staff to see a patient’s current and previous ECG readings at the touch of a button. Previously each test had to be printed out, filed, and later scanned into a patient’s notes which meant printouts could be lost and anyone who wanted to examine the ECG would physically have to track down the file. Louise Welsh, chief medical information officer of the project and an ED consultant, said: “An ECG is a simple, non-invasive test which we do hundreds of every day and gives us vital information. The machines are now able to upload the ECG images directly into the patients’ records. We initially trialled it on 10 West in cardiology and then worked hard to deliver it in the high use areas of ED, ITU and the rest of cardiology. “It was more complicated to roll out than most of us anticipated but because we all worked together really well we overcame the technical challenges. It’s absolutely fantastic to see staff using it and picking it up so quickly. They see the benefit of the information being in one place and instantly accessible for everyone involved in the patient’s care to see. Other teams are now asking for it – word has definitely got out.” She added: “As well as giving staff back precious time this also has the benefit of improving clinical care because it allows ECGs to be viewed from any location compared to previous ECGs.” John O’Hare-Price, lead critical care nurse technologist, said: “ECG integration has been embraced by our teams. It’s viewed as a significant step forward. Once you’ve shown someone how to do it, they can show their team – it’s so easy people understand it straight away.” Ranjini Shanthakumar, cardiovascular operations manager, said: “Every single patient benefits and in addition we no longer have to admit all patients presenting with suspected irregular heartbeats. Instead we can instantly review their ECG and they can be monitored at home via the atrial fibrillation virtual ward which is better for everyone.” As easy as ECG Ease: The information is available with a click of a button rather than finding the paper trail. Multiple people can look at the data at the same time. Cutting workload: Staff admin is reduced as the ECGs no longer have to be physically scanned for record keeping, which historically could take weeks meaning it wasn’t always possible to compare with the latest ECGs. Getting rid of errors: The scan can no longer be lost or inputted incorrectly as it directly uploads from the machine into the system. L-R: Kriezle Madriaga, staff nurse, Ranjini Shanthakumar, cardiovascular operations manager and staff nurses Doreen Osei and Rama Shrestha Rama Shrestha, staff nurse, with the new ECG machine
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